Device for electromagnetical quenching of light arcs appearing upon the interruptionof an electric circuit



Apr. 24, 1923. 1,453,193

L. SCH 3 DEVICE FOR ELECTROMAGNETICAL QUENCHING OF LIGHT ARCS APPEARING UPON THE INTERRUPTI'ON OF AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT Filed Sept. 5, 1920 Inventor Ludwlg Sch'o'n,

Patented Apr. 24, 1923.

LUDWIG scHoN, ornssnu, GERMANY, essrenon TC rnrnn. KRUPP AKTIENGESELL- SCHAFT, OF E$SEN 0N EHE-RUHR,

ANY.

DEVICE FOR ELECTEOMAGNETICAL QUENCHING LECtI-Ii ARCS APPEARING UPON THE INTER-RUPZION OF AN CIRCUIT.

Application filed September To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Dr. LUnwie specification.

The present invention relates to a device for quenching light arcs appearing when an electric circuit is interrupted, said dev bein intended to lead away the light arcs.

net field.

which is which- Fig. 1 is a. longitudinal section; and Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

A and B are two prismatic carbon pieces with rectangular sides, which may abut against each other with their upright sides a and 6 thereby forming the contact pieces of the switch. These contact pieces A and B are connected to a continuous current source feeding a current consumer by means of conductors, not shown. Contact piece Jr is secured on rod a and contact piece B on a rod 6 (see Fig. 1). These rods a and b are constructed of nonmagnetic material. Rod a extends with its free end into a suitable recess in a rectangular frame G, with which it is rigidly connected. Rod 5 on the other hand, is slid-ably carried in the frame (land is, at'its other end, provided with. a handle I), by'means of which it may be drawn out in the direction of arrow :0,

Fig. 1.

anglesin the manner indicated in Fig. 1. On the longltudinal sides of the frame Sci-ion, residing at Essen, Germany, a citizen of the Urern'ian Republic, have invented a certain 5 new and useful Improvement in a Device for Electromagnetical Quenching of Light Arcs Appearing upon the Interruption of an Electric Circuit, of which the following is a provided with spark horns which are T he purpose'of the invention is to provide such a device which is distinguished by the exceedingly small dimensions of the switch, used for the interruptions, and its advantageous action, and which is further intended to quench the light arcs in an alternating current by means of a continuous current mag- 3, 192a. Serial No. 408,103.

wuich runs at right angles to the abutment faces (6 and are secured, opposite to each other, two bole-cores c and 0 which are covered witi exciting windings c and 0*. These exciting windings c and c are fed by a continuous current. The pole-cores c and c are arranged in such a manner that their upright, symmetrical planes are situated in the same vertical plane as the abutment faces a? and b of the closed switch. On both sides of the spark horns a and o are provided two perpendicular, semi-circular disks 0 and c, which are secured to the free pole faces of the pole-cores c and c by means of downwardly directed stays. The semi-circular disks 0 and c consequently form parts of pole-shoes for the blow-out magnets o 0 c 0 a c. The semi-circular disks 0 and 0 are so located that their horizontal diameters fall in the plane of the upper surfaces of the spark horns 0L3 and 5 In describing the operation of the present device, it will be first'supposed that the switch is inclosed position, as shown in the drawing, and that an electric current is flowing over the interrupting place, which is now ridged over by the contact pieces A and B; and furthermore, that the magnet-windings c and c are being excited. A magnetic field will consequently be generated in the frame (I, the lines of force of which close in the manner indicated in Fig. 2 by the dot and dash lines. in order to break the current, the contact piece is quickly moved in the direction of the arrow by means of a pull on the handle 7)" (see Fig. 1). Through this movement of the contact piece B, an electric arc will appear between the abutment faces (L1 and F2 of the contact pieces A and B, which now stand apart.

This electric arc is immediately driven away from its place of generation by the magnetic field which runs at right angles to the direction of the arc; the course of the magnetic field being so selected that the light arc will be driven upwards. As a consequence, the light arc very quickly will reach the upper edges of the abutment faces a and Y)". Up to this moment the action of the quenching device of the present invention does not differ from other well-known similar devices.

Directly the light-arc has reached the upper edges of the abutment faces a and b,

it comes within reach of the magnetic field, which is passing between the disks .0 and 0, and will thereupon be driven off by the latter. It now passes with its base points onto the spark horns a and b and is further conducted on the latter with great speed. As the lines of equal force density in this part of the magnetic field form concentric half-circles with the disks 0 and c, the light are similarly takes semi-circular shape. Its length increases then very rapidly and it disappears consequently at the latest, when its base points reach the ends of the spark horns a 5 The principal advantage of the present invention resides therein, that the light are is forced. to follow, with great regularity, a well-decided, prearranged course, and to proceed thereon with great rapidity, from the moment its base points have arrived on the upper edges of the abutment faces a and 6 The speed with which the light are is driven off and quenched is then so great, as shown by numerous experiments, that all inadmissible heating is avoided with certainty in every portion of the switch, even with very strong currents, as for instance, 7000 A. 550 V. in a switch for A. continuous current. Even if the current is so strongas for instance, during short-circuiting in a line-that the light are, in spite of its semicircular shape, cannot immediately disappear, when its base points arrive at the free ends of the spark horns, there occurs no damage to the switch parts. As the current first runs radially from the ends of the spark horns, actuated by the magnetic field, and thereupon closes in an increasing semi-circle until it finally disappears, only very small molten beads will appear, even in this case, at the ends of the spark horns, as has been proved by numerous experiments, because these places evidently form somewhat longer base points for the light arcs than the other places.

The great speed with which the light are is driven off and quenched, as already men tioned several times, makes it possible to in terrupt, without danger for the switch, alternate currents with continuous current, magnetic fields. The time within which the alternate-current light are is driven off and quenched is much shorter than the duration of a half period, and, as a consequence, no danger will arise of the light are remaining stationary. The possibility of quenching a light are from an alternate current with a continuous current magnet field is furthermore of very great importance, because the quenching of a light are from an alternate current by means of an alternate current magnet field is practically impossible.

Still another advantage is gained from the present invention, namely. that the switch path need not be appreciably greater than the spark space of the highest possible tension in use. Aside from other mechanical advantages, the small necessary switch path is also desirable when the switch is actuated electromagnetically. The size of the electromagnet needed for the release of the switch may be made very small.

Without deviating from the nature of the present invention, it would be possible to make such arrangement that the lines of equal force density for the field passing between the disks, obtain a different form than the semi-circle. This is particularly desirable when it is required to drive out the light are very far to one side. Lastly, the spark horns, situated between the disks, may be given a different direction than the one indicated in the drawing, but the arrangement of the spark horns shown is, however, the most advantageous and the preferred construction.

Claims- 1. In apparatus of the character described the combination of a pair of separable contacts and opposing magnet cores in the plane of the meeting face of the contacts and having parallel, disc-shaped pole shoes, the contacts having fixed thereon oppositely curved arcing horns arranged between the pole shoes, said arcing horns including an angle of 180.

2. In apparatus of the character described the combination of a pair of separable contacts and opposing magnet cores in the plane of the meeting face of the contacts and having semi-circular parallel, disc-shaped pole shoes, the contacts having fixed thereon oppositely curved arcing horns arranged between the pole shoes, said arcing horns including an angle of 180.

3. In apparatus of the character described the combination of a pair of separable contacts and opposing magnet cores in the plane of the meeting face of the contacts and having semi-circular parallel, disc-shaped pole no shoes. the contacts having fixed thereon oppositely curved arcing horns arranged between the pole shoes, said arcing horns including an angle of 180, said semi-circular, pole shoes being so located that their horizontal diameters fall in the plane of the upper surfaces of said arcing horns.

4. In combination with the set of contacts of a switching system, arcing horns opposingly. directed and mounted substantially contactingly on said contacts, the direction of said horns being substantially that of the direction of separation of said contacts. and a magnetic blow out system comprising pole shoes having an end face substantially parallel with the are carrying surface of said horns.

5. In combination with the set of contacts of a switching system, arcing horns oppositely directed and mounted substantially contactingly on said contacts, and a magnetic blow out system comprising pole shoes having an end face substantially parallel with the are carrying surfaces 0]": said horns said pole shoes'ofiering an increasing magnetic density both toward the contacting point of said contacts and toward said end faces.

6. A direct current blow out system for alternating currents having in combination with the set of contacts of an alternating current system, arcing horns oppositely directed and mounted substantially contactingly on said contacts, and a direct current magnetic blow out system comprising pole shoes having an end face substantially parallel with the are carrying surfaces of said horns, said pole shoes ofiering an increasing magnetic density toward the contacting point of said contacts.

7. A current disrupting system comprising a magnetic circuit, a blowout system, arcing horns mountingly directed across said magnetic circuit, the direction of said horns being substantially at right angles to the iiux density distribution lines in the neighborhood of said arcing horns.

8. A current disrupting system comprising arcing horns arranged at an angle of substantially 180 vith respect to each other, 0

L. serum. In presence 0:E

HANS GoT'rsMANN, Josnr Mnn'rz. 

